Listen to this articleElected officials, business and labor leaders joined developers in Bellport for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for the $700 million Sunrise Wind project.
The event held at the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport on Wednesday officially kicked off construction on the 924-megawatt offshore wind project that Ørsted is developing 30 miles off Montauk.
Sunrise Wind is the state’s largest offshore wind project so far and once completed is expected to provide enough energy to power about 600,000 homes. The project, to be built under project labor agreements with local unions, will create more than 800 direct jobs during its construction phase, according to a statement from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
At the groundbreaking, Hochul also announced the issuance of the state’s fifth offshore wind solicitation for the next offshore projects, with final proposals due on Sept. 9.
“We’re growing New York’s green economy, building clean energy, and expanding economic opportunities for all New Yorkers,” Hochul said in the statement. “By breaking ground on Sunrise Wind and advancing the next wave of offshore wind projects, New York is passing a tremendous milestone to combat climate change. These projects will create good-paying union jobs and demonstrate that New York is leading the nation to build the offshore wind industry.”
The start of Sunrise Wind comes on the heels of the completion of Ørsted’s South Fork Wind, the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S.
“Sunrise Wind builds on the momentum from South Fork Wind as we deliver jobs, economic development, and clean power for hundreds of thousands of New York homes and businesses,” Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted David Hardy said in the statement. “We’re successfully standing up a new American energy industry thanks to the outstanding leadership of the Hochul and Biden-Harris administrations. We look forward to building New York’s largest offshore wind project, helping the state meet its clean energy targets while strengthening the local offshore wind workforce and supply chain.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris congratulated Ørsted on the groundbreaking, which she called a catalyst for creating new family-sustaining job opportunities and bringing significant economic benefits to local communities.
“Today’s shovels in the ground, paired with the launch of New York’s fifth offshore wind solicitation, marks yet another step forward in advancing offshore wind in New York State, and realizing the potential of this powerhouse industry in accelerating the state’s energy transition and growing our economy.”
Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said the groundbreaking on Sunrise Wind demonstrates New York’s unwavering dedication to fostering a robust green economy.
“This project will not only power hundreds of thousands of homes with clean energy but also energize our local economies, particularly on Long Island,” Law said in the statement. “As we continue to attract cutting-edge renewable energy projects, we’re positioning New York as a national leader in the fight against climate change while simultaneously driving economic development and job creation across the state.”